Volvo XC40 Complaints

169 consumer complaints on file.

#11732029April 18, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
I am submitting this complaint to report a persistent safety-related defect in my 2023 Volvo XC40. Since the vehicle was purchased, the infotainment system has repeatedly crashed while the vehicle is in operation, at times as often as every 5 minutes. The condition has existed both before and after completion of the recall/software update, and it was not corrected after presentation to an authorized dealer for inspection and repair. These repeated system failures materially affect the safe operation of the vehicle. When the infotainment system crashes, the rearview camera becomes unavailable. In addition, the windows and windshield may fog up, and I may lose access to the controls needed to restore visibility. The loss of forward visibility, combined with the loss of rear camera functionality, creates a substantial and unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. Although I suspect the problem may involve inadequate hardware or processing capacity, I am not asserting a definitive technical diagnosis. The critical fact is that the vehicle repeatedly loses important operational and safety-related functions while being driven. Because the defect persists despite the recall update and dealer intervention, I request that NHTSA investigate this condition as a potential safety defect in the 2023 Volvo XC40.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727849March 29, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Brake system failed. I was NOT in one pedal mode. I have up to date software. After break system failed I was unable to put vehicle in park. Parking break could not be applied. Could not turn car off or lock doors. I was driving on interstate when it occurred. I got multiple warnings on display. I was lucky to pull over and not crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724948March 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Despite multiple repair attempts by Volvo Cars Sugar Land — including software reloads, module reprogramming, and the completion of Recall R10333 — the vehicle continues to experience failures that directly compromise my safety and the safety of my wife. I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. My XC40 has undergone five documented repair visits, including: • Electrical system failures • Infotainment instability • Parking sensor and camera malfunctions • Multiple software reloads and module reprogramming • Recall R10333 “Total Upgrade” On March 11th, while driving at approximately 60 mph on the highway, the IHU screen froze, went completely black, and all audible safety indicators inside the cabin were lost, including: • Turn signal click • Hazard flasher sound • Parking sensor tones • Multimedia audio This condition lasted for nearly 10 minutes, during which I had no ability to safely signal lane changes or rely on audible warnings. I was forced to continue driving until I could safely pull over. After parking, shutting the vehicle off, and waiting several minutes, the IHU restored itself. This incident occurred five days after the most recent repair attempt and represents a serious safety hazard and a complete loss of trust in the vehicle’s reliability.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724037March 13, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The contact leased a 2025 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a narrow view of the roadway, limiting peripheral visibility. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be corrected. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V908000 (Back Over Prevention) and personally completed the software update, as per the manufacturer's instructions; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was operating as designed. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723648March 11, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
The contact owned a 2024 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that his wife was entering a parking lot at approximately 10 MPH when she heard the vehicle engine abnormally revving and the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle drove through the parking lot and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger front air bags deployed, and the front collision avoidance had not engaged. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the tree almost at the center of the front bumper and grill. The hood had been crushed, the grill cracked, and the bumper had been torn off. The contact stated that the police arrived on scene but did not write a report since no other vehicles were involved. The contact stated that his wife had scrapes and bruises on both arms and scrapes on her nose and forehead. The wife was not attended to by EMT, but later went to the ER for neck and back pain. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The contact had contacted the manufacturer, who sent a technician to download information from the vehicle computers. The contact stated that a summary was released by the manufacturer that indicated that the crash was a driver error. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11722843March 8, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
back-up camera delays coming on when car put in reverse. Have had the car for over a year and taken to dealer for repair, with no result. Volvo model XC40 not listed on nhtsa site for recall #25V908 (Mfg R10333).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718766February 18, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
Driver assist failed and brakes failed when vehicle veered to left on its own..Brakes and steering failed when trying to correct failure.. Overcorrection caused vehicle to veer off road and over a sign and continue for approximately 50 feet. Vehicle is currently at State Farm towing lot. My safety and others were put at risk with "reckless" driving. The problem has not been reproduced. A State Farm claims adjuster will inspect the vehicle today 2/18/26 or tomorrow. No warning lamps or messages appeared.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718226February 16, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On two separate occasions, brakes failed completely in snow. Vehicle did not appear to be hydroplaning, and anti-lock function did not kick-in despite the pedal being floored. Pumping had no effect either. Safety sensors around the car should have detected motion even if the wheels were locked-up and should initiate anti-lock procedures as well. Distance traveled (at low speed due to snow and heavy traffic) was well over 100 feet. Emergency stopping feature finally engaged anti-lock brakes about 1/2 second before impact. To avoid a second crash (someone two vehicles ahead caused a pileup) a year later, driver had the wherewithal (and space) to leave the roadway when brakes failed to even slow the vehicle.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717691February 12, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was sitting in the car with my daughter with the car in park, but the engine was on. Suddenly the engine started revving, and I thought her foot hit the peddle but it wasn't the case, and she had to turn the car off. I then got into the driver's seat and started the car again, and it did the same thing. I turned the car off and had to Uber home.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715748February 5, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact was able to pull into a nearby parking lot where the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the cause of the failure and repaired the vehicle. The contact believed that the battery and drive train were repaired. Approximately 2 to 3 years later, while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle started shaking, lost motive power, and stalled. Law Enforcement arrived on the scene, and while assisting with moving the vehicle from the middle of the road became aware that coolant was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the inverter drive system and wiring harness had caused a catastrophic drive failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713966January 28, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in my vehicle. The AEB system has repeatedly activated without any apparent reason, causing the vehicle to brake suddenly when there are no obstacles, vehicles, pedestrians, or road hazards present. These events have occurred under normal driving conditions. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership at least five times (possibly more) for this same issue. Each time, the dealer has stated that the vehicle is “operating as designed” or that they were unable to identify or correct the problem. Despite these visits, the unintended braking continues to occur. There have been passengers in the vehicle during these incidents who witnessed the sudden, unnecessary braking and can confirm that no hazard was present at the time. This defect creates a serious safety risk, as unexpected braking could easily result in a rear-end collision or loss of control. I am increasingly fearful that this issue will cause an accident. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can investigate whether this defect affects other vehicles with the same system and take appropriate action to protect public safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713785January 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My car randomly has a battery charging fault. An alert stating “stop safely 12V battery critical charging fault” will just pop up while driving and then put the vehicle in turtle mode. This is an intermittent fault and is likely a false indication. This could cause an accident because it causes the car to slow down. This could happen on a highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710865January 14, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2024 Volvo XC40. The contact stated while in reverse (R) and backing up at approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle rear view camera proximity warning lights had failed. The contact described the proximity warning as dots that show a visual progression of how close the rear bumper was to objects, yellow, orange, and red. The contact stated that the red dot signaled to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the colored dots had been working as she was adjusting the vehicle to allow her to open the trunk, however when she had again shifted to reverse (R) to park the vehicle, the warning dots had disappeared from the display panel, and the contact crashed into some shelving located behind the vehicle. The contact stated that a shelf at the level of the rear windshield had shattered the windshield. The contact had not yet taken the vehicle to a glass shop or to a dealer. The contact stated that she had only called the dealer for information and was advised to bring the vehicle to the dealer's repair shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact reported that in 2025, she had had a recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V282000 (Back Over Prevention), completed, but was not sure if the current failure was related. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709773January 8, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: AUTOMATIC SYSTEM BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC40. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera display intermittently was distorted or inoperative. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The contact stated that the infotainment system was intermittently inoperative and had to be manually reset to return to normal operation. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking and the Back Over Prevention: Automatic System Braking independently activated while there were no vehicles or objects in front or behind the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the failure was causing emotional distress for him and his children and could eventually cause an injury. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the rear taillights were dim and failed to provide adequate illumination behind the vehicle while in reverse. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis; however, the dealer stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was performing normally. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708396January 2, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle experienced a complete loss of propulsion, causing it to freeze and become unable to move. The first occurrence happened during the original factory warranty period and required towing to a dealership, but the root cause was not identified at that time. The same loss-of-propulsion failure has since recurred, rendering the vehicle inoperable. A dealership has now diagnosed a failure of an electric vehicle propulsion/inverter component. The vehicle is currently in the dealership’s possession and available for inspection. Loss of propulsion presents a safety risk, particularly if it occurs while driving or in traffic, as it can result in sudden loss of power and inability to move the vehicle out of hazardous situations. The failure has been confirmed by the servicing dealership. There is also concern that a related cooling system component may be involved, but that has not yet been confirmed, as the primary propulsion failure must be addressed first. As of the date of this complaint, the vehicle remains inoperable and has been at the dealership since mid-November awaiting repair authorization.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707391December 28, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My Volvo XC40 front sunroof cracked wavy crack across front in internal glass. There was frozen ice on top of car which I left alone because of the glass roof underneath. When driving home today from work a huge chunk of ice lifted off top of car and the sunroof cracked internally across the front glass. I heard it crack. I am reporting this because apparently this is not an isolated issue. Many others I've discovered have had their panoramic sunroofs cracked and fail with no inciting incident on XC40Forum.com and apparently Volvo is not admitting to failure but telling owners there must have been something that hit the roof which hasn't been owners' experiences. If the sunroof is cracked and fails it can break off glass ultimately and cause others harm on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703383December 6, 2025
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Even after the last recall campaign, my vehicle still frequently fails to activate the backup camera with a message stating Backup Camera unavailable. The software update that was intended to resolve the issue has not worked. I've seen multiple other Volvo drivers complaining about the same issue online. This is regarding the following previous recall: Recall R10320 WAM Upgrade, Model Year 2021-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, EX40, C40 and EC40 vehicles The supposed fix was provided in software version 3.5.14, and my vehicle is currently on 3.7.0
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701801November 27, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
When attempting to park the vehicle, at low speed, the vehicle performed an unintended acceleration leading the vehicle to crash.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699484November 14, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Two Issues: 1. "Check Engine Light" comes on for no reason. This has happened six times (I have video recordings and maintenance reports from the dealership.) In the last maintenance report, Volvo technicians acknowledged the issue and stated that "AS OF NOW NO SOLUTION FOR THIS TO BE FIXED, VOLVO WILL BE LOOKING INTO THIS FOR FURTHER NOTICE." They also told me to just ignore the light if it comes on again. So, if there is a real and dangerous engine malfunction, there is no way to be alerted. 2. The entire sound system goes off while driving. This has happened few times. When this issue occurs, there will be no sound of alerts (turn signals, collision warnings, parking warnings, air conditioning, Google Maps, radio, etc.) The sales associates and manager told me this happens to their vehicles as well, and told me to reboot the screen whenever it happens. In one incident, I had to pull over in a shopping center parking lot to reboot the screen. No permanent solutions to this issue as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11698511November 10, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Ever since I bought the vehicle new in 2021 I have had perpetual problems with the software and technology. The cruise control system has gone out completely, all electrical fails in the vehicle, apple car play regularly goes out. What is even more of a safety concern is multiple times my car has been automatically braking and suddenly accelerates nearly causing me to rear end the vehicle in front of me. Several times I have been traveling down the road straight ahead with the cruise control system enabled and the vehicle will suddenly automatically turn sharply throwing me towards oncoming traffic or towards the side of the road. Fortunately I have been able to prevent an accident every time because of quick action but this is deeply concerning and an extreme safety concern for me and others on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volvo XC40